Robin van Persie returns to Arsenal to join full training this week. Having missed nearly five months of the season with serious ankle damage sustained on international duty with Holland, the striker is ready to rejoin his team-mates and attempt to regain match fitness before the end of the season.

"We sent our fitness coach to Holland where he has been doing his rehabilitation and we are told he looks very sharp," said the manager, Arsène Wenger, after Arsenal's 2-0 win over West Ham. "He will be back this week but we have to wait at least a month."

If Van Persie is able to get back on the pitch in a month, he would be available to help his team for at least three Premier League matches. Arsenal play Manchester City at the Emirates on 24 April, then visit Blackburn, and end their campaign with a home game against Fulham. There is also the possibility of their fixture at Tottenham being rescheduled, subject to how their north London rivals get on in their FA Cup semi-final replay.

If Arsenal progress in the Champions League, the Dutchman would also be in contention to play around the time of the semi-finals. Van Persie scored eight goals in 15 appearances before his injury last November.